Petition to establish an association of beni manufacturing wholesalers

Because chemical dyes were being imported and were available at cheap prices starting in the Meiji Period, the beni market for natural dyes took a downturn. Corrupt merchants who sold imitation beni dyes in bulk appeared, which further damaged the market. Therefore, a movement to establish an association to maintain and guarantee beni quality in the market was formed by 14 leading beni wholesale stores in Tokyo. This document is the petition to establish the association, which was submitted to the Governor of Tokyo. The name of Hanemon Sawada, who was the third proprietor of Isehan-honten, is listed as the Isehan-honten representative.